The Police has confirmed the rescue of Rev. Fr Luigi Brena, an Italian, who was abducted along Ogunwenyi, Usen community in Ovia South-West Local Government Area of Edo State.
The Deputy Public Relations Officer of the Edo State Police Command, Jennifer Iwegbu said on Monday that three of the suspected kidnappers were shot dead during the rescue operation.
The 64-year-old Brena was kidnapped on Sunday evening, she said.
According to her police operatives attached to Iguobazuwa Division were alerted of the incident on Sunday at about 5:45 pm and immediately trailed the suspected kidnappers to their camp.
On sighting the operatives, the command’s spokesperson narrated, the suspects opened fire on them after which the police swiftly responded.
Iwuegbu said, “The superior firepower of the police operatives neutralised three of the kidnappers while the rest escaped into the forest with various degrees of gunshot injuries, abandoning their victim.
“The victim was immediately rushed to Igbinedion Teaching Hospital, Okada for medical attention. Meanwhile, intensive bush combing is ongoing with the aim of arresting the suspected kidnappers now on the run.”
Recall that a day to Brena’s abduction, gunmen had kidnapped two Catholic priests around Ehor and Iruekpen communities along the Benin-Auchi Expressway.
The abducted clergymen, who are yet to regain freedom, are Reverend Father Udo Peter of St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, Uromi, and Reverend Father Philemon Oboh of St. Joseph Retreat Centre, Ugboha in Esan South East Local Government Area (LGA) of the state.
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